Friday 20 February 2015

Happy Kolam!


A beautiful kolam is a pride.
They adorn the courtyard
And cried out that there are some creative people staying in the house!

When the kolam is something as small and cute as this…
Feeling proud seems perfect!

And I have a confession!
I would have peeked out of the window umpteen times to check the kolam.
And I smiled each of those times.
Sometimes, only happiness matters!


PS: Because many people asked me what a Kolam is…
Kolam refers to intricate patterns drawn both free handedly and by joining dots. These can be widely seen in the Southern part of India. Women draw this early morning, preferably before Sunrise after cleaning the courtyard. Earlier rice powder was used – it was a means to feed ants and small insects. However, these days, stone powder and even chalk is used. If such powders are used, it is called Pudi Kolam. Sometimes, brick powder will be used as outline on auspicious days, Tuesdays and Fridays. If rice powder is mixed in water and similar patterns are drawn, it is called Maavu/Maa Kolam. In West Bengal, it is called Alpona. In North India, people used rice/stone powders for the outline and fill the patterns with colors. This is called Rangoli.

It is believed that Kolam brings prosperity. It is drawn for almost all the auspicious occasions like marriages and festivals. When someone dies in the household, the family don’t draw any kolam for a year.  

Children in small towns learn the art of making kolam at a very young age. In fact, a girl who knows to draw impeccable and intricate kolam is a pride for the entire family and the village she stays. However, owing to modernization, city life and apartment culture, this art is soon dying.

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful pattern,pleasing to the eye

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  2. I have been seeing a lot of Kolams in the area I am currently staying and God they are beautiful!!!
    This was lovely!

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  3. Our neighbor's maid draws beautiful kolams and I have been the only one to admire it daily, recently I told her that she has a talent to be proud of and that brought a smile on her face, as lovely as her kolam!

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    1. That's so kind of you Padmaja.

      Kolam is certainly an art. But, I see that many people take that for granted (like cooking/stitching) and never take time to appreciate the mind and efforts that go into it. I am very glad that you did that.

      Thanks :)

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  4. Really very beautiful the Rangoli is!

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